Time-fuse for



S. WILEY, In.

TIME FUSE FOR AERO BOMBS.

APPLICATION min mm1. 1919.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

S.*WILEY| Jn.

VTIME FUSE FOR AERO BGMBS.

APPLlcAmn man nlm. 21. 1919.

.Patented 001;. 21, 1919.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 SAMUEL WILEY, JR., 0F ME-TUCI-IEN, NEW JERSEY.

TIME-FUSE FOR AERO-BOMBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

Application filed March 21, 1919. Serial No. 283,985.

y will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in time fuses for bombs adapted tobe'dropped from aircraft.

A by similar reference symbols throughout the several views, andinrwhich:-

Figure 1 is a front view of the fuse and the `handle attachment for thebomb as removed from the bomb, parts being broken Fig. 2 is a side-viewof the device shown in Fig. 1, as seen from the left of said figure.

Fig. 3 shows a section along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and looking down.

Fig. lf-shows a section along the broken line 4 1-'of Fig. 3 and lookingin the direction of the arrows, but with the hammer cocked. v

4Fig- 5 shows a section along the line 5 6 of Fig. 4L and looking in thedirection of the arrows, the fuse being shown in the safety position.

Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 5 which shows the fuse in the armedposition.

Fig. shows a section along the line 7-7 of Fig. l6' and looking in thedirection of the arrows, the parts being shown on a larger scale.

perspective view of the crosshead mounted above the cap and to which thehandle is connected.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the trigger showing the undersidethereof.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing 1n inverted position the housingmounted above the heel of the trigger, and

Fig. 14k is a perspective view of the handle as detached from the fuseafter the bomb has been released therefrom.

A represents the fuse stock which is in the form o-f a hollow cylinderchambered as at Ao to receive the rotary cap B.

C represents the hammer actuatedby the spring C. v

D represents the cross head to which handle is attached.

E represents the trigger, and F represents the trigger housing mountedon the cross hea-d.

G represents the securing screw connecting the fuse stock, the rotarycap and cross head together.

I-I represents the handle, I the spring impressed plunger for holdingthe cross head against turning on the rotary'cap, and K represents thesafety pin.

Referring to the parts more specifically, the fuse stock A is in theform of a cylindrical cup chambered as at Ao and screwthreadedexteriorly as at a to engage screw threads in the head of the bomb. Thebomb is not shown, as the invention relates primarily to the time fuseand is adapted for use with a great variety of bombs.

The fuse stock is flanged as at a', and this flange is provided with 'asafety notch a and with time notches a2, whose function will behereinafter described.

The upper inner edge of the fuse stock is chambered as at a3 to receivethe time train M, which preferably consists in a slow burning train ofpowder inclosed in a fusible tube of lead or an inflammable tube, whichis melted or ignited when the primer is exploded, as will be hereinafterdescribed.

Projecting' up into the center of the chamber AO is the spindle A whichmay be integral with, or attached to the fuse stock A, as by means ofthe locking pin at, see Fig. 4. In any event this spindle A is to allintents aed1 purposes an integral pant o-f the fuse s oc z Mounted inthis fuse stock isthe rotary cap B having a cylindrical shell binclosing the the chamber B, which shelll projects down intothe chamberAo` of the fuse stock A. This rotary cap is shown in the proper position in Fig. 4, but in the inverted position in Fig. 10. This cap isprovided with a flange b adapted to register with the upper face of *theflange a of the fuse stock, and this flange is provided with a notch b2to assist in setting;` the fuse at the proper time interval, which willbe hereinafter described.

Projecting down into the chamber Bo of the rotary cap is a lug B havinga plane face b3 from which projects the primer n which ignites thecharge of powder N held in a chamber in the lug B', as shown in Figs. 4,5, 6 and 10. The shell l) is preferably cut away as at b4 forconvenience in putting the primer n in place.

C represents the hammer which is provided with a striking arm c adaptedto strike the primer n, and is cut away as at c to permit the insertionof the ring spring C which is preferably in the form of a coil springslipped over the spindle A and having one end engaging an abutment inthe rotary cap, and the other end engaging the hammer arm 0, as shown inFigs. 4, 5 and 6. This hammer also slips over the spindle A and isnotched as at c2 to engage the lugs e2 on the heel of the trigger E.This heel of the trigger is perforated, as at e, to slip over thespindle A and has an arm e adapted to engage an abutment on the han.

dle, which will be hereinafter described.

D represents a cross head centrally perforated as at do to slip over thespindle A, and having downwardly projecting arms d adapted to slip' overthe outer edge of the flange a of the fuse stock. This cross head isprovided with a catch d adapted to engage in any one of the notches inthe flange of the fuse stock and also with a resilient friction arm Z2adapted to bind against the outer face of said flange and steady thecross head while it is being moved or while it is in the unlockedposition. This spring serves as a friction brake to prevent too quickiotation of the rotary cap C in setting the use.

The cross head is also provided with a socket Z3 for'the spring plungerI which is normally pressed downward by the spring I into engagementwith a1 notch b5 in the rotary cap B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, so asto cause the cap and the cross head to rotate together when desired.This plunger and spring are held in place by the milled screw head z',see Figs. l and 4. The cross head D is provided withla groove Z5 a-teach end thereof, into which grooves project the pins adapted to engagethe handle as will be hereinafter described.

F represents the housing block for the trigger, which is provided with alug f perorated as at f to receive the securing shown in Figs. l and 3.

screw G, and is recessed as at f to engage the outer vedge of the heelof the trigger. This housing is provided with suitable pins or lugs f2adapted to engage in the sockets al in the cross head D, see Figs. 4, 1land 13.

The detachable handle is shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and 14, and preferablyconsists of two members H and H2 pivoted together, as will now bedescribed. The inner member H is preferably in the form of arectang'ular loop with lower forked ends i, slotted as at It?, andpreferably bent inward slightly as at i, so as to provide suitableyielding frictional engagement.

One side of this loop H is provided with a rib 7a2 which serves as astop to prevent the handle from being pressed down too far, and there isa similar stop h3 which serves also to engage the trigger arm e, as willbe hereinafter described.

Secured to the sides of the loop H are the screws l1,4 which projectinto the slots h5 in the sides of the outer loop H2 of the handle,lshown in Fig. 14, and this outer loop has downwardly projecting legsprovided with hooks la and with guide faces 71.7 above said hooks. Thesides of the loops H and H2 are perforated as at ILS and It so that whenthe handle is secured on the fuse the safety pin K may be inserted, asshown in Fig. l, thus effectually locking the handle in the safetyposition, and the handle cannot be broken7 or swung to the releasingposition so long as this safety pin is in place.

The outer loop H2 of the handle is pressed away from the inner loop bymeans of a spring H3.

The operation of the device is as follows Supposing the parts to beassembled in the safety position, first turn the handle until the pin Ion the crosshead D engages in the socket b5 on the top of the cap, thuslocking the crosshead and cap together and cooking the hammer. In thisposition the fuse will be set to burn about five seconds. If a longertime is wanted, continue to turn the handle and cap B to the timedesired. If for any reason the fuse or bomb is not used when thus set,it may be turned back to the safety position with the hammer cocked.

The lug LS on the handle will engage the trigger arm c, and incident tothis operation the powder mass N has been moved from registering withthe abutting wall a of the fuse stock to a position opposite the timetrain M, the rotary cap being turned from the position shown in Fig. 5to that shown in Fig. 6. The hammer is prevented from yielding to theaction of the hammer spring C because of the engagement of the triggerarm e with the stop h3 on the handle, as Thus so long as the fio handleis attached to the fuse, the hammer is held in the cocked position andcannot be released or cannot move to the firing position.

At this time the handle will be firmly locked tothe fuse andincidentally to the bomb, and the safety pin K being in place the handlecannot be removed from the device, so that the parts are in theabsolutely safety position; but the fuse is armed and set at the propertime interval.

Now if it is desired to drop the bomb with y the fuse so set, lift thebomb by the handle and hold it in the proper position for dropping,remove the safety pin K and press the outer loop H2 downward against theaction of the spring H3. This may be accomplished by simply squeezingthe loops H and H2 together by a single grip of the hand. The downwardmovement of the loop H2 relative to the loop H will cause the cam facesif to engage the pins d* and will throw the hooks 71, out of engagement,thus leaving the handle attached only to the mechanism by the frictionalengagement of the arms h. The weight of the bomb will be more thansuflicient to overcome this frictional engaUement, and the bomb and theparts carrled thereby will drop clear of the handle, leavinfr the hannd-efttheroperatnr. t Soon a er the bomb begins to drop downward clearof the handle, the trigger arm c will pass clear of the stop ha o n thehandle, leaving the hammer spring free to rotate the 5 hammer to thefiring position, causing it to strike the primer fn, and to ignite thepowder charge N. vThe heat and pressure of this powder charge will besufficient to melt or break the wall of the powder train M and this timetrain will burn for the predetermined time before it reaches the pointm, vherg it ignites the ignition charge M, see

iig.

This ignition charge M ignites the eX- plosive charge in the bomb notshown. The lower end o'f the recess inclosing this ignition charge M maybe closed in any convenient way, as by means of a thin strip m. Thus itwill be seen that when the fuse is set at the predetermined timeinterval when the projectile is dropped clear of the handle, the timetrain will be ignited and the fuse will function properly for the timeinterval for which it is set.

To prevent against accident from premature explosion in case theoperator, through inadvertencc or carelessness, fails to set the fuse atthe desired time interval I construct the fuse so that the charge Nignited by the primer n will blow out without exploding the bomb whenthe bomb is released with the parts in the safety position. Toaccomplish this result the groove a3 in the fuse stock containing thetime train M is interrupted, and the plane cylindrical wall. a isprovided, as shown in Fig. 5. When the fuse is not set ffor anytimelinterval, and the parts are in the safety position shown in Fig. 5,the powder charge N -will register with this wall a6, and yif the hammeris operated, the gases from the powder charge N will escape through theopening t6, see Figs. 3 and 4.

Thus, even if the hammer should strike the primer when the fuse is notset at an adequate time interval, there will be a simple blow-out of theprimer charge without setting the time train; whereas if the fuse is setat an appreciable time interval the bomb will drop far enough away fromthe handle when released before it explodes, so that the operator willbe perfectly safe from premature explosion.

do not mean to confine the inventlon to any particular form of bombreleasing device or primer igniting device, as these -obviously might belvaried in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It will be obvious also that various other modifications might be madein the construction, combination and arrangement ofv parts which couldbe used without departing from the spirit of my invention; and I do notmean to limit the invention to such details except as particularlypointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is 1. A time fuse for aero bombscomprising a fuse stock adapted to be attached to the bomb, and providedwith a time train, a rotary cap mounted in said fuse stock, and providedwith a primer adapted to ignite said time train, a spring impressedhammer normally tending to strike said primer, a trigger controllingsaid hammer, and a handle attached to said fuse for supporting the bomb,and normally holding said trigger in the cocked position, but releasingsaid trigger when the handle is detached, substantially as described.

2. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a rotary capmounted in said fuse stock and provided with a primer adapted to ignitesaid time train, a spring impressed hammer .normally tending to strikesaid primer, a trigger controlling said hammer, a handle for supportingthe bomb carried by said fuse, and means carried by said handle forholding said trigger in the cocked position, and releasing same whendesired, substantially as described.

3. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a rotary capmounted in said fuse stock, and provided with a primer adapted to ignitesaid time train, means for setting said rotary cap at any desiredposition relative to said time train, a spring impressed hammer carriedby said rotary cap and normally tending to strike said primer, a triggercontrolling said hammer, and a handle attached to said fuse forsupporting the bomb, and normally holding said trigger in the cockedposition, but releasing said trigger when the handle is detached,substantially as described.

4f.. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a rotary capmounted in said fuse stock, and provided with a primer adapted to ignitesaid time train, means for setting said rotary cap at any desiredposition relative to said time train, a spring impressed hammer carriedby said rotary cap and normally tending to strike said primer, a triggercontrolling said hammer, a handle for supporting the bomb carried bysaid Jruse, and means for holding said trigger in the cocked position,and releasing same when desired, substantiallv as described. l

5. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a rotary capmounted in said fuse stock, and

provided with a primer adapted to ignite said time train, a springimpressed hammer normally tending to strike said primer, a triggercontrolling said hammer, a handle detachably connected to said fuse forsupporting the bomb, and normally holding said trigger in the cockedposition, but releasing said trigger when the handle is detached,

l-and means for quickly ,releasing said handle l from said fuse whendesired, and thus releas- ,i 4prmauai with ing the bomb.

6. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a vituse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a rotarycapmounted in said fuse stock, and a primeradapted to ignite said timetrain,means for setting said rotary cap at any desired position relativeto said 'time train, a spring impressed hammer cari ried by said rotarycap and normally tend- 5'5`ing to strike said primer, a triggercontrolling said hammer, a handle detachably connected to said fuse forsupporting the bomb, and normally holding 'cocked position, butreleasing said trigger in the said trigger when the handle is detached,and means for quickly releasing said handle from said fuse when desired,and thus releasing the bomb.

7. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a segmental groove and a timetrain mounted tion, and releasing same when desired, substantially asdescribed.

8. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a segmental groove and a timetrain mounted therein, a rotary cap mounted in said fuse stock, andprovided with a primer adapted to ignite said time train, but to beinoperative when registering with the space between the ends of saidtime train, means for setting said rotary cap at any desired positionrelative to said time train, a spring impressed hammer carried by saidrotary cap and normally'itending to strike said primer, a triggercontrolling said hammer, a handle for supporting the bomb carried bysaid'fuse, and means for holding said trigger in the cocked position,and releasing same when desired, substantially as described.

9. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a spindleprojecting upwardly into said stock, a rotary cap mounted in said fusestock and journaled on said spindle, and provided with a primer adaptedto ignite said time train, a spring impressed hammer also journaled onsaid spindle and normally tending to strike said primer, a trigger alsojournaled in said spindle and controlling said hammer, and a handleattached to said fuse for supporting the bomb, and normally holding saidtrigger in the cocked position, but releasing said trigger when thehandle is detached, substantially as described.

10. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a spindleprojecting upwardly into said stock, a rotary cap mounted in said fusestock and journaled on said spindle, and provided with a primer adaptedto ignite said time train, a spring pressed hammer also journaled onsaid spindle and normally tending to strike said primer, a trigger alsojournaled in said spindle and controlling said hammer, and means forholding said trigger in the cocked position, and releasing same whendesired, substantially as described.

11. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a spindleprojecting upwardly into said stock, a rotary cap mounted in said fuse30th Unwwnwvm stockand journaled on said spindle, and provided with aprimer adapted to ignite said time train, means for setting said rotarycap at any desired position relative to said time train, a springimpressed hammer, also journaled on said spindle and normally tending tostrike said primer, carried by said rotary cap, a trigger also journaledon said spindle and controlling said hammer, and a handle attached tosaid fuse for supporting the bomb, and normally holdino said trigger inthe cocked position, but re easing said trigger when the handle isdetached, substantially as described.

12. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a spindleprojecting upwardly into said stock, a rotary cap mounted in said fusestock and journaled on said spindle, and

provided with a primer adapted to ignite said time train, means forsetting said rol tary cap at any desired position relative to 25 saidtime train, a spring impressed hammer, Ialso journaled on said spindleand normally tending to strike said primer, caried by said rotary cap, atrigger also journaled on said spindle and controlling said hammer, andmeans for holding said trigger in the cocked position, and releasingsame when desired, substantially as described.

13. A time Jfuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a spindleprojecting upwardly into said stock, a rotary cap mounted in said fusestock and journaled on said spindle, and provided with a primer adaptedto ignite said time train, means for setting said rotary cap at anydesired position relative to said time train, a spring impressed hammer,also journaled on said spindle and normally tending to strike saidprimer, carried by said rotary cap, a trigger also journaled on saidspindle and controlling said hammer, a handle detachably connected tosaid fuse for supporting the bomb, and normally holding said trigger inthe cocked position, but releasing said trigger when the handle lisdetached, and means for quickly releasing said handle from said fusewhen desired and thus releasing the bomb.

14. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a-fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a spindleprojecting upwardly into said stoc a rotary cap mounted in said fusestock and journaled on said spindle, and provided with a primer adaptedto ignite said time train, means for setting said rotary cap at anydesired position relative to said time train, a spring impressed hammeralso journaled on saidA spindle and normally tending to strike saidprimer, a trigger also journaled in said spindle and controlling saidhammer, and a handle lattached to said fuse for supporting the bomb, andnormally holding said trigger in the cocked position, but releasing saidtrigger when the handle is detached, substantially as described.

l5. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached .to the bomb, and provided With a time tram, a spindleprojecting upwardly lnto lsaid stock, a rotary cap mounted in said fusestock and journaled on said spindle, and provided with a primer adaptedto .ignite said time train, means for setting sald rotary cap at anydesired position relative to said time train, a spring impressed hammeralso j ournaled on said spindle and normally tending to strike saidprimer, a trigger also journaled in said spindle and controlling saidhammer, and means for holding said trigger in the cocked pos1t1on, andreleasing same when desired, substantlally as described.

16. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a

spindle projecting upwardly into said stock, a rotary cap mountedin saidfuse stock and journaled on said spindle, and provided with a primeradapted to ignite said time train, means for setting said rotary cap atany desired position relativ'e to said time train, a spring impressedhammer normally tending to strike said primer, carried by said rotarycap, a trigger also journaled on said spindle and controlling saidhammer, and a` handle attached to said fuse for supporting the bomb, andnormally holding said trigger in the cocked position, but releasing saidtrigger when the handle is detache substantially as described.

17. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to the bomb, and provided with a time train, a spindle projecting upwardly into said stock, a rotary cap mounted in said fuse stockand' journaled on said spindle, and provided with a primer adapted toignite said time train, means for settting said rotary cap at anydesired position relative to said time train, a spring impressed hammer,normally tending to strike said primer, carried by said rotary cap, atrigger also journaled on said spindle and controlling said hammer, andmeans for holding said trigger in the cocked position, and releasino'same when desired, substantially as described. 18. A time fuse for aerobombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to be attached to the bomb, andprovided with a time train,

a spindle projecting upwardly into said stock, a rotary cap mounted insaid fusel stock and journaled on said spindle, and

` handle from said fuse when desired, and

thus releasing the bomb.

19. A time fuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to beattached to.

:the bomb, and provided with a segmental groove and a time train mountedtherein, a rotary cap mounted in said fuse stock, and provided with aprimer adapted to ignite said time train, but to be inoperative whenregistering with the space between the ends of said time train, meansfor setting said rotary cap at any desired position relative to saidtime train, a spring impressed hammer carried by said rotary cap andnormally tending to strike said primer, a trigger controlling saidhammer, and means for holding said-trigger in the cocked position,`andreleasing same' when desired, substantially as described. 20. A timefuse for aero bombs comprising a fuse stock adapted to be attached tothe bomb, and provided with a segmental groove and a time train mountedtherein, a

rotary cap mounted in said fuse stock, and provided with a primeradapted to ignlte said time train, but to be inoperative whenregistering with the space between the ends of said time train, a springimpressed hammer normally tending to strike said 21. A time fuse foraero bombs comprisf ing a -use stock adapted to be attached to the bomb,and provided with a segmental groove and a time train mounted therein, arotary cap mounted in said fuse stock, and provided with a primeradapted to ignite said time train, but to be inoperative whenregistering with the space between the ends of said time train, meansfor setting said rotary cap at any desired position relative to saidtime train, a spring impressed hammer carried by said rotary cap andnormally tending to strike said primer, a trigger controlling saidhammer, and means for holding said trigger in the cocked position, andreleasing same when desired, substantially as described.

SAMUEL WILEY, JR.

Uopi'el of this lpatent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Wilmington, D. C.

